Protect national interest always – Minister

Mr Akwasi Oppong-Fosu, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, on Monday, charged Directors and Staff of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, to always protect the national interest at all times.

He said it was the responsibility of public and civil servants, as well as Assemblymen, to protect public and national interests and urged them to be honest and promote the development of their various assemblies.

Mr Oppong-Fosu was addressing assembly members and staff of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) in Tamale, as part of his three-day working visit to the Northern Region to acquaint himself with the work of the assemblies and inspect development projects in some districts.

He congratulated the TMA and all the assemblies in the region for passing the Functional Organizational Assessment Tool test set up by the Ministry to access the performance of assemblies.

Alhaji A. B. A Fusieni, Deputy Northern Regional Minister, said most development projects in the region were progressing steadily and urged the assembly members to be patriotic and promote the development of their assemblies to raise the living standards of the people.

Mr Hanan Abdul Rahman Gundadoo, Tamale Metro Chief Executive, said the TMA is faced with lots of challenges, including office accommodation and revenue mobilization, adding that, the TMA office was currently located within Sanarigu Assembly.

He noted that, despite all the challenges, the assembly had chalked some achievements, assuring that, the TMA would continue to work to sustain the success.

The Minister later inspected an Affordable Housing Project at Lahagu, on the Tamale-Salaga road, being undertaken by the Tamale Credit Union in collaboration with a British Non-Governmental Organization.

Mr. Oppong-Fosu was accompanied by Dr. Callistus Mahama, Head of Local Government Service, Mr. Abdul-Rahman Amin, Director of Finance and Administration, and Mr. Sylvanus Adzornu, Director of Urban Development, all at the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.